Siddaramaiah to pacify dissidents within Congress
Former minister Ramesh Jarakiholi returns to Belagavi
Bengaluru, December 25: As differences of opinions cropped up among a section of MLAs soon after the expansion of the Cabinet, former chief minister and Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah has decided to pacify the dissidents within the party.
As Ramesh Jarakiholi said that he would take a decision on resigning from his MLA position within four days, Siddaramaiah has decided to speak to Ramesh Jarakiholi and Ramalinga Reddy. Even Congress state incharge and AICC general secretary KC Venugopal is also arriving in Bengaluru today. But suddenly, Ramesh Jarakiholi left for Belagavi.
“I will not meet any Congress leader. I will hold meetings with my workers and supporters and take next decision”, he said.
It is said that Ramesh Jarakiholi is upset over the attitude of some Congress leaders for dropping him from the Cabinet. As soon as he received the invitation from Siddaramaiah for meeting, Ramesh left for Belagavi triggering more scope for suspicion.
When media people tried to speak to him at Hubballi airport, Ramesh said ‘no comments’ and left.
As Ramesh Jarakiholi left for Belagavi suddenly, Siddaramaiah summoned Minister Sathish Jarakiholi to Bengaluru. After taking oath as the minister, Sathish has gone to Belagavi for the first time. Following a call from Siddaramaiah, Sathish is going to Bengaluru to participate in a meeting of Congress leaders.
On the other hand, Siddaramaiah has also invited former minister Ramalinga Reddy for discussion and held meeting at Siddaramaiah’s house.
Meeting with followers
Meanwhile, as the minister post is denied to him, former minister Ramalinga Reddy has decided to convene a meeting of his followers and discuss the further course of action. It is said that he would invite BBMP members of BTM Layout and Jayanagar Assembly constituencies, block Congress leaders, former corporators and other leaders for the meeting.
Recently, Reddy had said that he had some differences with two Congress leaders and he would shortly hold a press conference and disclose it. It is said that Reddy has been trying to convince the party high command through his supporters that his induction into the cabinet is inevitable keeping in mind the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
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Followed poll processes transparently, will review all legitimate concerns: EC to Cong
New Delhi (PTI): The Election Commission on Saturday asserted that all poll procedures it followed in Maharashtra were transparent and assured that it would review all legitimate concerns flagged by the Congress, which alleged serious inconsistencies.
In its interim response to the party, the poll authority invited a Congress delegation on December 3 to discuss concerns expressed by it.
The Congress on Friday raised with the Election Commission "serious and grave inconsistencies" which it said were being revealed in the data relating to the polling and counting processes for the recently-concluded Maharashtra Assembly polls and sought an in-person hearing to present relevant evidence.
In the response, the EC reiterated that the process was transparent with the involvement of candidates or their agents at every stage.
The commission also assured of a review of the Congress' legitimate concerns and a written response after hearing the party's delegation in person.
It asserted that a transparent electoral roll updation process was undertaken with the involvement of all political parties.
Responding to the issue regarding the voter turnout data, the EC asserted that there was no discrepancy in it and the data was available with all candidates polling station-wise and is verifiable.
The gap in the 5 pm polling data and the final voter turnout was due to procedural priorities, as presiding officers perform multiple statutory duties near the close of polling before updating the voter turnout data.
As an additional disclosure measure, an EC press note at around 11:45 pm was introduced during the 2024 Lok Sabha election and followed subsequently during all assembly polls thereafter, the poll body told the Congress.
